Water Heater Sizing: Does Your Home Need More Than One?

If you have a long wait between turning on your faucet or showerhead and
getting hot water, you may think that there’s nothing you can do
about it. It just takes as long as it takes, right?

The truth is, there is a solution that many homeowners aren’t aware
of – installing multiple
tankless water heaters near the points of demand is the solution.

What is a Point of Demand?

Any point where you need hot water to come out is called a point of demand.
This includes your kitchen sink, washing machine, showers, and bathroom sinks.

How Does a Tankless Water Heater Work?

First, let’s think about a traditional water heater. With this type
of water heater, water fills up a large tank. The water is heated up,
then kept at the same hot temperature while it waits to be used. When
you turn on a hot water tap, the water flows from the tank to your point
of demand.

A tankless water heater is a much smaller unit that’s
installed on a wall along the path of the pipe. When you turn on the hot water tap,
water flows through the pipes and also through the tankless heater. Inside
the tankless heater, the water is warmed up before it finishes its journey
to your faucet.

Because tankless heaters are not as large as traditional models, it’s
possible to place one near each main point of demand in your home. This
allows hot water to get to your tap faster, reducing the wasted water
that runs down your drain while you wait for it to heat up.

Additional Pros and Cons:

Pro: Requires less energy because they are not keeping water hot at all times